appeared disappointed, but she didn’t care.
“So, um, what are you doing here?” Ava asked. “I mean … never mind … it’s a public event, of course, I just didn’t think you were in the market for high priced artwork.”
“That’s true. Sorry to say you won’t be making any commission off of me tonight, but I’m actually a big fan. You know … the whole flying planes and art thing? I have a few of his commercial prints.”
“Right,” Ava replied. “I didn’t make the connection. Sorry.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t realize this was the same art gallery where you worked. So, um … you know Thomas Malloy?” Max asked.
“Something like that,” Ava answered. She noticed that Megan continued to move closer to Max as if she were marking her prey, although she had nothing to contribute to the conversation. Ava wondered what Max saw in her – past the blonde Barbie doll look. She didn’t appear to like art or aviation. Ava supposed she answered her own question.
“Next time he walks by, I can introduce you if you’d like,” Ava offered.
“Really?” Max asked. “That would be amazing. Thanks.”
“Sure thing,” Ava replied, losing interest in the conversation.
“Did anyone call a taxi?” a guy dressed in flannels, and looking sorely out of place, called out from the front door.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” Ava asked.
She went into Cynthia’s office to get Carly, who had fallen asleep at Cynthia’s desk. Putting Carly’s arm around her neck, and her own arm around Carly’s waist, Ava helped her out of the office and into the cab with payment and instructions to get her home safely.
Chapter 23
“Ava, dear, can I steal you away for a moment?” When Ava walked back into the gallery, Cynthia grabbed her arm, only giving her a chance to nod at Max and Megan instead of having to join them again. She was grateful for the diversion.
“What’s up?” Ava asked, following Cynthia back into her office. She hoped Carly hadn’t caused any real damage.
“I’ve got buyers for five photos already. Can you work up the paperwork for me?”
Ava smiled at Cynthia. The exhibit still had several hours to go. It was very possible she’d have to bring out some of the reserve photos before the night was over. That hardly ever happened. “Of course,” Ava remarked in relief, taking a seat behind the desk.
“Thanks. These buyers are like savages out there. They can’t get enough. I don’t want to leave them alone for a second. Just bring them out when you’re done.” Ava watched as Cynthia returned to the main gallery floor. Opening the drawer in Cynthia’s desk, she began pulling out the necessary papers.
“She’s quite amazing, isn’t she?”
“What?” Ava asked, startled to see Thomas standing in front of her with two flutes of champagne. “Oh, yes. She certainly knows what she’s doing.”
He handed Ava a glass.
“No thanks, I’m working,” she said, feeling uncomfortable to be alone with him. Didn’t he need to go back to the gallery to mingle with the crowd? She could always go introduce him to Max.
“Oh, come on now, you’ve worked so hard already, one drink will be okay. I’m sure Cynthia would approve. Five photos in the first hour … I’d say that’s something to celebrate.”
Ava took the drink. She had a feeling Thomas wouldn’t leave until she did. “Cheers!” he said, clinking his glass against hers. “We sure do make a great team.”
Ava forced a smile and took a sip. “I don’t know about that. You’re the one with the talent. I’ve arranged plenty of exhibits that haven’t sold nearly as well.”
“I think you sell yourself short,” Thomas remarked. “Cynthia even pulled me aside a few minutes ago to tell me that the success of the opening is to your credit.”
“You’re too kind,” Ava said, putting her glass down. She had a hard time believing anything Thomas said anymore. She opened the desk drawer once more,
“So, um, what are you doing here?” Ava asked. “I mean … never mind … it’s a public event, of course, I just didn’t think you were in the market for high priced artwork.”
“That’s true. Sorry to say you won’t be making any commission off of me tonight, but I’m actually a big fan. You know … the whole flying planes and art thing? I have a few of his commercial prints.”
“Right,” Ava replied. “I didn’t make the connection. Sorry.”
“Yeah, and I didn’t realize this was the same art gallery where you worked. So, um … you know Thomas Malloy?” Max asked.
“Something like that,” Ava answered. She noticed that Megan continued to move closer to Max as if she were marking her prey, although she had nothing to contribute to the conversation. Ava wondered what Max saw in her – past the blonde Barbie doll look. She didn’t appear to like art or aviation. Ava supposed she answered her own question.
“Next time he walks by, I can introduce you if you’d like,” Ava offered.
“Really?” Max asked. “That would be amazing. Thanks.”
“Sure thing,” Ava replied, losing interest in the conversation.
“Did anyone call a taxi?” a guy dressed in flannels, and looking sorely out of place, called out from the front door.
“Would you excuse me for a moment?” Ava asked.
She went into Cynthia’s office to get Carly, who had fallen asleep at Cynthia’s desk. Putting Carly’s arm around her neck, and her own arm around Carly’s waist, Ava helped her out of the office and into the cab with payment and instructions to get her home safely.
Chapter 23
“Ava, dear, can I steal you away for a moment?” When Ava walked back into the gallery, Cynthia grabbed her arm, only giving her a chance to nod at Max and Megan instead of having to join them again. She was grateful for the diversion.
“What’s up?” Ava asked, following Cynthia back into her office. She hoped Carly hadn’t caused any real damage.
“I’ve got buyers for five photos already. Can you work up the paperwork for me?”
Ava smiled at Cynthia. The exhibit still had several hours to go. It was very possible she’d have to bring out some of the reserve photos before the night was over. That hardly ever happened. “Of course,” Ava remarked in relief, taking a seat behind the desk.
“Thanks. These buyers are like savages out there. They can’t get enough. I don’t want to leave them alone for a second. Just bring them out when you’re done.” Ava watched as Cynthia returned to the main gallery floor. Opening the drawer in Cynthia’s desk, she began pulling out the necessary papers.
“She’s quite amazing, isn’t she?”
“What?” Ava asked, startled to see Thomas standing in front of her with two flutes of champagne. “Oh, yes. She certainly knows what she’s doing.”
He handed Ava a glass.
“No thanks, I’m working,” she said, feeling uncomfortable to be alone with him. Didn’t he need to go back to the gallery to mingle with the crowd? She could always go introduce him to Max.
“Oh, come on now, you’ve worked so hard already, one drink will be okay. I’m sure Cynthia would approve. Five photos in the first hour … I’d say that’s something to celebrate.”
Ava took the drink. She had a feeling Thomas wouldn’t leave until she did. “Cheers!” he said, clinking his glass against hers. “We sure do make a great team.”
Ava forced a smile and took a sip. “I don’t know about that. You’re the one with the talent. I’ve arranged plenty of exhibits that haven’t sold nearly as well.”
“I think you sell yourself short,” Thomas remarked. “Cynthia even pulled me aside a few minutes ago to tell me that the success of the opening is to your credit.”
“You’re too kind,” Ava said, putting her glass down. She had a hard time believing anything Thomas said anymore. She opened the desk drawer once more,
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